Rants on Bangalore's traffic situation

This is a discussion on Rants on Bangalore's traffic situation within Street Experiences, part of the Buckle Up category; Originally Posted by KarthikK
The problem is - who pays fines? Most of the traffic rule violators beg the traffic ...

The problem is - who pays fines? Most of the traffic rule violators beg the traffic inspectors not to bill the offense, and prefer to instead escape with a smaller bribe amount thrust into the hands of the cop or constable.

I used to toy with the idea of having daily quotas for the beat cops on traffic duty. That they have to collect fines totaling say, Rs. 10K in a shift if on duty at a busy signal (let us also offer them a percentage of total fine collected as an incentive). This will lead to aggressive fining, but that in turn might improve the discipline.

I used to toy with the idea of having daily quotas for the beat cops on traffic duty.

I'm sure there is some sort of unofficial 'quota' at play already. The poor beat cops probably have to give some share of their 'collections' to their higher ups! Problem is that the collections are not official nor recorded.

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Originally Posted by binand

This will lead to aggressive fining, but that in turn might improve the discipline.

It will just result in aggressive fining. And that's all. We've seen it at work already, cops will have a line of bikers at each intersection to 'check papers' while letting the bigger vehicles break more serious rules right in front of their eyes and go scot-free!

Over the weekend, it took me 3.5 hours to reach dobbaspet from Marathalli, a commute of around 70 odd kms through ORR and NH. Traffic everywhere, and just after the penya flyover, certain morons on sorpios, sumos and even a lorry took a u turn, went on the wrong side to enter the service road to avoid paying a toll. I wonder where do people get these ideas from. All in all, the most frustrating drive ever.

Over the weekend, it took me 3.5 hours to reach dobbaspet from Marathalli, a commute of around 70 odd kms through ORR and NH. Traffic everywhere, and just after the penya flyover, certain morons on sorpios, sumos and even a lorry took a u turn, went on the wrong side to enter the service road to avoid paying a toll. I wonder where do people get these ideas from. All in all, the most frustrating drive ever.

You could have used from BIAL Road from KR Puram to Devanahalli, then use the NH207. Not sure of the road condition after Devanahalli, but its definitely longer.

Over the weekend, it took me 3.5 hours to reach dobbaspet from Marathalli, a commute of around 70 odd kms through ORR and NH. Traffic everywhere, and just after the penya flyover, certain morons on sorpios, sumos and even a lorry took a u turn, went on the wrong side to enter the service road to avoid paying a toll. I wonder where do people get these ideas from. All in all, the most frustrating drive ever.

Hi dass,
I went by the same ORR at about 8:30AM on 09.11.13, everything (including Nagavara, hebbal signals & the 2 level crossings just prior to NH4 were free flowing)

You could have used from BIAL Road from KR Puram to Devanahalli, then use the NH207. Not sure of the road condition after Devanahalli, but its definitely longer.

Hi sansvk,
NH207 between Devanahalli & Doddaballapur is in good condition and the level crossing just before before DB'Pur is sometimes witness to traffic jams, with the Y intersection (Road from Yelehanka & Devanahalli merging).

Last Diwali weekend I drove the entire NH-207. From KR Puram, I went to Hoskote. Even though there is a turn off before Hoskote to go to BIAL, I preferred NH-207 as it has hardly any speed breakers. Reached Devanhalli from Hoskote in 30mins. After that another 45mins to Doddbalapur and 45mins to Dobbaspet.

Roads are excellent with very less traffic. First time ever my Figo gave me 20Kmpl.

Over the weekend, it took me 3.5 hours to reach dobbaspet from Marathalli, a commute of around 70 odd kms through ORR and NH. Traffic everywhere, and just after the penya flyover, certain morons on sorpios, sumos and even a lorry took a u turn, went on the wrong side to enter the service road to avoid paying a toll. I wonder where do people get these ideas from. All in all, the most frustrating drive ever.

+1 to Swiftdeep. Thats the best option. 207 via Devanahalli is quite a detour. But also to note Doddaballapur SH has traffic even in morning hours. One can witness some trucks. And there is als a railway crossing. And this is an active one as its Hyderabad railway line.

Good that they've finally opened up both the lanes on the Madiwala underpass. It is better now in the afternoons. But I seriously think the cops should be more stricter with the private buses picking up passengers from near there in the late evenings.

Darn, its hightime we need a separate lane for 2 wheelers.
Too much of chaos created by the 2 wheelers,and if they die, its any other vehicle's fault, other than their own.

See the image below. My office campus has recognized the nuisance of 2 wheelers, even in the campus. Hence they have segregated the road and made a separate lane for 2 wheelers.
Why can't the Govt. do something like this on major city roads ?

Some ten years ago, World Bank gave a report to the then government of Karnataka, urging them to build separate lanes for two-wheelers. As expected, the government said it is not feasible (without conducting any trial run, probably not even doing a feasibility study) and used the report for wiping.

It may not be possible to have separate lanes for bikes on all roads, but it is definitely possible to implement lane rules on roads like ORR. Oh, wait, first let them fix the ORR first. No one can peacefully use this road. Dividers are not in place, pedestrian overbridges are non-existent, lane separators are never painted, U-turns are not closed even now, signals are not yet installed below the ORR flyovers, entry from and exit to service roads are unscientific, speedbreakers exist even now in a few places, speed limits and lane rules are not imposed.

Damn, this city has more problems than solutions! We are forced to live here and suffer for bread and butter.

Some ten years ago, World Bank gave a report to the then government of Karnataka, urging them to build separate lanes for two-wheelers. As expected, the government said it is not feasible (without conducting any trial run, probably not even doing a feasibility study) and used the report for wiping.

Wow !! I never knew this part. When I hear these loot stories, I sometimes feel like becoming "Aparichit" and punishing the wrong-doers.

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It may not be possible to have separate lanes for bikes on all roads, but it is definitely possible to implement lane rules on roads like ORR. Oh, wait, first let them fix the ORR first. No one can peacefully use this road. Dividers are not in place, pedestrian overbridges are non-existent, lane separators are never painted, U-turns are not closed even now, signals are not yet installed below the ORR flyovers, entry from and exit to service roads are unscientific, speedbreakers exist even now in a few places, speed limits and lane rules are not imposed.

Exactly my thoughts. The ORR and Hosur Road are the most needed ones. Atleast they can start implementing something on Hosur Road and in the meantime, "try" and fix the ORR.
I strongly feel that the concept of Service Road has to go. Instead introduce them as 2 wheeler lane.

Its a nightmare to drive on ORR. After 3 months, today I drove beyond Ecospace, to Whitefield. I was so lost and confused what to do every second. I had to become one of them to save a scratch on my car. Unfortunately almost everyone simply came, scratched, banged and went their way.

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Damn, this city has more problems than solutions! We are forced to live here and suffer for bread and butter.

Good to have a thread for rants and I am purely ranting here.
This is about the pathetic state of Bangalore roads. I have spent considerable amount of time in many metros across India and small towns. However most of my last 10 years are at Bangalore. The civic agencies have hit rock bottom. It can not get worse than this.
My everyday commute is very restricted to CBD and surrounding areas. Travel from Koramangala to Indiranagar for work and on weekends to MG Road/Commercial street.
The moment I step out of my lane, The average sized pothole looks like a manhole and some of them look like a landmine crater. There is a drainage which leaks for one day after 10 minutes of rain. Inner ring road and Indira Nagar 100ft/80ft road look like village mud roads with less than 50% of the road in usable state.
Rather than blaming two wheeler riders for not following road discipline I salute their courage for being able to ride in roads like these. There have been countless cases of accident due to these roads.
Its like Joker is the mayor of Gotham city.

Damn, this city has more problems than solutions! We are forced to live here and suffer for bread and butter.

That is a very strong statement to make

If you have lived in Bangalore all along I am sure you will agree this was not the case with this city. Rampant development, no civic/city planning, an exodus of people thronging this city has resulted in the infrastructure to collapse and the current state it is in today. I do not want to go into the modalities of why and how however the governance has failed in keeping a check on the development of this city. Who is to blame?

Damn, this city has more problems than solutions! We are forced to live here and suffer for bread and butter.

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Originally Posted by sumathindra

That is a very strong statement to make

If you have lived in Bangalore all along I am sure you will agree this was not the case with this city.

Strong statement only because it is true!!
This was not the case some time in the past does nothing to reduce the pain that people living there now have to suffer.
I was lucky enough not to have strong enough ties to the city to hold me back and suffer. So i packed up and got out of there. Best decision I ever made.